Signal lamp



Nov. 11 ,-19Z4. 1,514,717

' z. OLSSON SIGNAL LAMP Filed Oct. 23. 1922 INVENTOR A TTOR NE YPatented Nov. ll, 1924.

UNITED STATES mam PATENT orricafi ZAOHARIAS OLSSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 BURGOYNE LIGHT & SIGNAL CORPORATION,OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SIGNAL LAMP.

Application filed October 23, 1922. Serial No. 596,388.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ZAOHARIAS OLssoN, acitizen of Sweden, and resident of the city of New York, in the countyof Richmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Signal Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in lamps, and isespecially, though not exclusively, adapted for railroad signal lamps,and has for its main object to provide a lamp of this type that willburn und er all conditions until the fuel is exhausted, the flame beingnot aflected in the least de gree by rain, wind and snow, nor by themovement of the lamp in the air.

Another object of the invention is to produce a lamp, wherein the airfor the support of th flame is received at the top and conducteddownwardly to the burner, the arrangement being such that'the productsof combustion are prevented from mingling with the air flowing to theburner.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- duce a lamp of the typementioned which is simple in construction, durable in use and efficientin operation, it being also capable of manufacture on a commercialscale, or in other words not so difficult to make as to be beyond thereasonable cost of such an article.

With these and other objects in view, which will more fuly appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thecombination, arrangement and construction of parts hereinafterdescribed, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, it being understood that many changes may be madein the size and proportion of the several parts and details ofconstruction within the scope of the appended claims, without departingfrom the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

One of the many possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, which represents a central vertical sectiontaken through a lamp embodying the improvements.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a base, on which is mounted ahousing 2, having openings 3 in its sides, said openings being inalignment each with a lens 4, as usual in signal lamps. Around each lensis formed a flange 5, said flanges serving to screen the lenses andpreventing more than oneshowing, when the lamp is properly placed. Thehousing is provided with a top 6, that is hinged at 7 thereto, a catch 8being provided for holding the said top in closed position. The topincludes a dome-shaped elementv 9, from which extends downwards thetubular body 10, the latter forming a continuation of the vertical wallsof the housing. Through the said dome-shaped element extends a chimney11, that is surrounded by an upright tubular wall ,12 on the dome-shapedelement. The tubular wall projects at its top inwards toward the top ofthe chimney 11 and is united with said chimney, so as to close theannular space 13 formed between the said tubular wall, the chimney andpart of the dome-shaped element 9. Over the tubular wall 12 is fittedthe downwardly projecting flange 14 of a cap 15, the latter overhangingthe said flange. In a similar manner does the dome-shaped element 9 ofthe top 6 overhang, the tubular body 10 of the said top. The purpose ofthis arrangement will be described hereinafter.

In the housing is located a removable lamp, comprising an oil font 16,from which rises a lamp casing 17. This lamp casing is provided in itsvertical walls 18 with openings 19, in registering positions with thelenses 4. The openings are covered by transparent material 20, forinstance glass. In transverse cross-section, the size of the lamp casingis considerably smaller than the transverse cross-section of the lamphousing 2, for a purpose hereinafter to be described. From the top 21 ofthe lamp casing projects upwards a flue 22, into which is snugly fittedthe lower end of the chimney 11. If necessary, a gasket 23 may beinterposed between the flue and chimney, to provide an air-tight unionbetween these two elements.

From the top 6 of the lamp housing extends downwards a flange 24, thatis spaced from the tubular body 10 above referred to, it surrounding theflue 22 and projecting, preferably, down to a level that coincides withthat of the top 21 of the lamp casing.

In the tubular body 10 of the top of the lamp housing is provided aplurality of apertures 25, through which air is admitted to supportcombustion, said air passing between the said tubular body and theflange 2d downwards, continuing its flow thence between the inner faceof the vertical wall of the housing 2 and the outer face of the lampcasing, entering the latter through perforations 26, which are disposedbelow the burner 21 as near as possible to the top portion 27 of the oilfont, the said top portion forming the bottom of the lamp casing. Theproducts of combustion leave the lamp casing through the flue 22, passthrough the chimney 11, are deflected by the cap 15, and leave thehousing through perforations 28 in the flange lat of the said cap.

The dome-shaped element 9 projects over the apertures 25, therebyexcluding rain and fluctuating draughts, which may be caused by gusts ofwind, the flange 2e battling the air, passing into the housing 2, tosuch an extent as to prevent it rushing into the lamp with sufiicientforce to interfere with the flame. A further bafliing is effected bycausing the air to turnat the bottom of the lamp casing. It may be notedthat the flange 24s is not absolutely necessary for the proper operationof the lamp, as the flue 22 joins the chimney 11 and thereby preventsflowing of air into the lamp casing 17 at the top of the latter. Inpractice, however, it has been found that better results are obtained ifthe air is caused to flow downwards immediately upon entering thehousing 2. a

From the foregoing it appears that an abundant air supply is providedfor, and it will be seen that, no matter how strong the wind may blow onthe lamp or how rapidly the lamp may be moved in the air, the directionof the air is entirely altered by the deflecting flange 24: and by thelocation of the perforations 26, so that, before reaching the inside ofthe lamp casing, the pressures are practically equalized in alldirections and all undue velocity checked.

Inasmuch as the chimney 11 fits snugly into the flue 22 of the lampcasing 17, the fresh air supply cannot intermingle with the products ofcombustion The flame produced is thus a steady one, while, if theproducts of combustion would be permitted to mingle with the fresh airsupply, it would flicker, in time.

In the tubular wall 12 is provided a plurality of perforations 29, aplurality of perforations 30 being formed in the inwardly projectingportion of the said tubular wall.

The partial vacuum, created in the chamber through the perforations 30and intermingling with the products of combustion, flowing out throughthe apertures 28. The purpose of inducing a flow of air through thechamber 18 is to cool the top of the housing 2. I

The perforations 28 in the flange let of the cap are overhung by thesaid cap, to protect the lamp against weather and also to prevent anydownward draught of air through the said perforations.

What 1 claim is l. A signal lamp comprising an outer housing having atop hinged thereto, a chimney extending through said top and movabletherewith, a lamp casing removably mounted within said housing having atransverse cross-section smaller than that of said housing, and a fluefixed to said lamp casing, the inlet to said chimney and the outlet ofsaid flue closely fitting into one another, forming a single passagewhen said top is in its closing position.

2. A signal lamp comprising an outer housing having a top hingedthereto, a chimney extending through said top and movable therewith, alamp casing within said housing having a transverse cross-sectionsmaller than that of said housing, and a flue fixed to said lamp casing,the inlet of said chimney and the outlet of said flue making anair-tight joint whensaid top is in its closing position.

3. A signal lamp, comprising an outer housing, a closed lamp casingtherein, a chimney on said housing, and a flue on said lamp casing, theinlet to said chimney and the outlet of said flue making an air-tightjoint, thereby forming a single passage, the transverse cross-section ofsaid lamp casing being smaller than that of said housing, whereby anannular space is provided between the inner face of said housing and theouter face of said lamp casing, said housing being provided with airinlets above said lamp casing and said lamp casing being provided withair inlets adjacent its'bottom.

Signed at New York, in the county ofNew York, and State of New York,this 8th day of September, A. D.1922. i

' i ZACHARIAS OLSSON.

